Taylor Swifts’ New Advocacy: Help Other Victims of Sexual Assault

By Arden Lambert | August 16, 2017

Learning

People say that “Experience is the best teacher” and Taylor Swift really wants to live by that quote. After her victory against DJ David Mueller in court for the sexual assault case she filed, she vows to make donations and reach out to other victims like her and defend themselves.

“I want to thank Judge William J. Martinez and the jury for their careful consideration, my attorneys Doug Baldridge, Danielle Foley, Jay Schaudies and Katie Wright for fighting for me and anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault, and especially anyone who offered their support throughout this four-year ordeal and two-year long trial process,” Swift, 27, said in a statement to Us Weekly after hearing the verdict.

“I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this,” the statement continued. “My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.”

Living

The Grammy awardee claimed that former radio host Mueller grabbed her butt during a meet-and-greet back in June 2013. Yesterday, the jury ruled in her favor and got her symbolic $1.

In an opening statement given by Swift’s lawyer, J. Douglas Baldridge, he said,

“Today Ms. Swift is taking a stand for all women. Today a woman has reported being sexually assaulted and now she is being sued for a case of workplace sexual assault. She has been in tens of thousands of meet-and-greets, including going out in the crowds, and she never had this happen. If a person cannot stand up and serve as an example to other young women that have been sexually assaulted, then who can?”

Mueller demanded $3 million in damages to compensate for his lost job.

“He wants to make the victim pay the price, he is seeking 15 times what his contract with the radio station was worth in damages, and Ms. Swift is seeking $1 to show women you can say no,”

Baldridge said in court. To note, Mueller’s lawsuit was dismissed on August 11 for insufficient evidence.